ORLANDO, Fla. - The Seawolves got their 2026 season started with a thrilling five-set victory (25-22, 20-25, 25-21, 17-25, 15-12) over Robert Morris on Friday in game one of the Black and Gold Classic, hosted by UCF.
The Seawolves defense at the net proved to be a major difference maker against the Colonels as they ended the day with 17 total blocks, their most in a single match since recording 17.5 against Hampton on October 8, 2022.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Both teams were neck-and-neck early in the set as they came out to a 10-10 tie. Mercedes Motton provided much of the offense early on, quickly notching three kills during this early run. With the score tied at 10 all, Avari Amstutz recorded her first career kill to Stony Brook back the lead. After a service error retied it at 11-11, the Seawolves proceeded to go on a 6-0 scoring run to go up 17-11. Though the Colonels managed to cut the lead back down to just two at 22-20, two more from Motton helped close out the set.
SET 2 | RMU took advantage of three Seawolves attack errors to go up 6-2 in set two. The deficit was soon cut down to one as Stony Brook's three transfers Ella Sanders, Damisi Osibodu, and Ellery Singleton all notched consecutive points. After trailing for most of the set, the Seawolves eventually tied it up at 18-18 thanks to back-to-back blocks from Osibodu and a pair of kills from Quinn Anderson. Stony Brook could not keep up the momentum, however, as the Colonels went on a 7-2 to take set two.
SET 3 | The Seawolves' new transfers continued to shine in the third as they quickly built a 10-4 lead and forced an RMU timeout. Stony Brook kept the pressure on for the rest of the set as Anderson notched five more kills and was one of four Seawolves in the frame to record multiple blocks, including the set-winner.
SET 4 | The fourth set played out much like the first, with both teams deadlocked at 10-10 before the Seawolves went on a 6-1 run to take a five-point lead. Pierre Louis tacked on two more kills and three more blocks through the first half of the frame, while Anderson and Sanders combined for five kills and two blocks. Robert Morris, though, went on a massive 14-1 run after the media timeout to force a fifth set.
SET 5 | Amstutz got the Seawolves started with her 10th kill of the day, while Mopelola Ojo made her season debut and quickly recorded a solo block to make it 4-2. Sanders later topped 10 kills as well to extend the lead to 7-4. Later, with the set tied 11-11, Ojo gave Stony Brook a two-point lead with her first kill and another block. A kill from Anderson would get it to match point, setting the stage for Osibodu to close out the match with her fourth kill of the day.
Notable Stats
- In her fourth season, Rayanne Wheat secured her first career double-double with a career-high 24 assists and 26 digs. In the process, she became the first Seawolf since Torri Henry on October 4, 2024 to record at least 20 assists and 20 digs in a match.
- Amstutz began her career with a double-double as she ended the match with 11 kills and 12 digs, making her the first Seawolves freshman since Lauren Schmitz in 2020 to record 10+ kills and 10+ digs in her career debut.
- Anderson also earned a double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs, giving her three in her career. These are the most digs she has had in a match since September 7, 2024 when she totaled 13. Anderson also set a new career high in blocks with six.
- Carey-Jean Block set a new career high of her own with 23 digs.
- Sanders began her Seawolves career with 11 kills.
- Pierre Louis' nine blocks are her most in a game since recording 10 at Hofstra on November 12, 2023
Up Next
The Seawolves are back out on the court later today vs. NC State at 4 p.m. in game two of the Black and Gold Classic.
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